Self-guided visits / Centaman booking draft

The Santa Ana Zoo is a wonderful place for a field trip. If you come for a self-guided visit, you will explore the zoo with your group at your own pace and under your own guidance. The zoo does not provide educators or programming for self-guided visits.

For field trips that include Zoo Education instructors and educational programming elements, please see the Zoo Explorer program.

If you are an educator for middle school, high school, or college, please email us so we can help plan your visit.

• Reservations for your visit must be booked at least two weeks in advance.
• Self-guided visits are open to groups from schools  and community organizations.
• Groups require at least 10 paying members to book. Children age 2 or younger do not pay and do not count toward the 10-person minimum.
• Payment is not due at time of booking. Payment will be made in person on the day of your visit.
• Payment for your group must be made in one transaction.

Self-guided visits are generally available to book on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while school is in session, and Monday through Friday during the summer. Self-guided visits are not available on weekends.

• October 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025: Bookings are available Monday and Wednesday only.
  • All Fridays in this timeframe are sold out and therefore unavailable until June 2025.
• June 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025: Bookings are available Monday through Friday.

Pricing

Children age 2 or younger are always free. They do not count toward the 10-person minimum for group bookings. Memberships and free or discounted passes cannot be used towards group admission. Bus drivers do not receive free zoo admission.

Cost for self-guided visits that occur prior to 6/30/2025:

• Teacher/Staff/Chaperone $11
• Student $8
• Senior (age 60+) $8

Cost for visits 7/1/2025 or later:

• Teacher/Staff/Chaperone $12
• Student $9
• Senior (age 60+) $9

Payment

Payment is not required at time of booking.

Payment is required upon date of visit. You will pay based on the number of actual attendees. Payment must be made in one transaction upon checking in at the ticket booth. Any members of your group paying separately from the group transaction will be charged regular admission price.

Preferred forms of payment include:

• credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
• cash

Checks made out to Santa Ana Zoo or City of Santa Ana are accepted. Checks must be for one group and one visit date only. Checks made out of for multiple groups or visit dates will not be accepted.

Once you click Book Now, you will be taken to our booking page. You will see a calendar and a drop-down menu.

1. Select your date from the calendar.
2. Select your time and group size from the drop-down menu that says Please select an available option. Click into the space above the line.
3. Please note that the only group size available is 10-100.  You will add your actual group size as you progress through the booking.
4. The time slot will also show you how many tickets are available. If your group is larger than the number of available tickets, please select another time or date.
5. Select your organization name from the drop down list. If your organization name is not available, please email your organization name, best contact, and billing address/phone number to zooreservations@santa-ana.org so we may add you to the system.
6. Select your group size from the drop down list. Again, the only option will be 10-100. If your group is larger than 100 members total, you will need to create multiple bookings.
7. Add your expected numbers of children, teachers, and additional adults (chaperones). Please keep in mind that we request a ratio of at least one adult per every 10 children. Click Add to cart. After this, your selection will be in your shopping cart, and you will be taken to the Checkout page.
8. Check your numbers, and add the name of the best contact person for the booking. While this page says Amount to Pay and Payment Form,  no payment is required at time of booking. Payment will be made in-person upon date of visit. 
9. Review and accept the Terms and Conditions.
10. Click the blue PAY button. Again, this will not record or require any payment information. It will just complete your booking.
11. You will be directed to the Payment Completed page, with your receipt # and barcode. This will also be emailed to you.
12. Click the blue OK button to be directed to the zoo home page.